James Wilson

WILSON, READ

Posted By: County Coordiantor
Date: 11/20/2006 at 10:37:04

James Wilson, of the firm of Wilson & Speer, miners, Sec 22, P O Boone, is a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, and was born December 25, 1842, and was raised there ,he commenced mining when ten years of age and has followed it until the present time, and has a thoroughly practical knowledge in all of its details, when he emigrated to the United States he first settled in Pennsylvania, on the Monongahela river, and thence to Rock Island county, Illinois, and came to Boone county in 1868, after mining until 1879, he commenced prospecting along the Des Moines river and from past experience and careful examination he was led to select his present location, and in regard to the result of his observations it is only necessary to state what he honestly believes, that he has the best, purest and most easily worked vein west of the Mississippi in Iowa, and he challenges the county for purity of the coal, coming nearer to Pennsylvania coal than any he has been in the West and he thinks all that is required is a trial to convince others of its merits, the vein averages about four and one-half feet in thickness, Mr Wilson was married December 31. 1865, to Miss Agnes Read, who was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, they have a family of six children: Christine, Thomas, James, Mary and Agnes

1880 Boone Co History Book